South Lanarkshire Council has pledged to help plant 18 million trees over the next decade.
At the Climate Change and Sustainability committee meeting yesterday (November 9), councillors approved plans to plant the trees as part of the Glasgow City Region.
The Glasgow City Region Cabinet, which South Lanarkshire Council is a part of, launched The Clyde Climate Forest in June last year with the main aim to plant 18 million trees over the next decade.
South Lanarkshire is a key stakeholder in the Clyde Climate Forest, with the council conveying the Canopy Working Group and representing that group on the Clyde Climate Forest steering group. The council is also a significant landowner and a vital partner in supporting the plans.
Over the course of the year, those actively involved in the Clyde Climate Forest have seen the great opportunities that could arise from the Clyde Climate Forest.
The council has begun setting out commitments to the management, protection and enhancement of trees at a canopy cover level. The approach maximises the services and quality of life benefits it can collectively bring to the community.
The ambitious plans to plant 18 million trees received mixed reviews from councillors.
Councillor John Anderson (East Kilbride Central South) questioned if trees will be locally sourced. He said: “My concern is about the ability to meet tree planting targets due to the lack of homegrown stock.
"Do we have a locally grown stock that doesn’t involve importing exotic pests and diseases? Or is there something within the region if not within South Lanarkshire?”
Council officers stated that in the past councils tended to have their own nurseries for trees to be planted, but it has not been in operation for a number of years.
Therefore, the council will strategically work to develop a suitable approach through working with the Glasgow City Region.
Councillor Alex Allison (Clydesdale East) questioned the effectiveness of planting trees, he said: “Planting 18 million trees over the next decade is certainly a significant number.
"But what’s important is not the number of trees but the amount of carbon that is sequestrated.
"Trees are good at that but for it to be a benefit to our community and to reduce carbon we also have to take into account what happened on that land before the trees are planted.
“Is there any work done on that because trees are not always the most efficient way of sequestering carbon. So what are we doing to make sure we’re making a benefit for carbon sequestration and not just growing trees for tress sake?”
Council officers countered these concerns by revealing that the council is still in the early days of the Clyde Climate Forest, and is working hard to scale up but to make sure the maximum benefit is achieved.
Councillor Kirsten Robb (East Kilbride East) welcomed the plans, and she said: “I think the mantra of tree planting is the right tree in the right place, so I think that will need to be looked at in the process.
“Also, let’s think beyond carbon, this is the climate committee.
"We’re trying to see the benefits of trees beyond carbon, albeit they have a good effect as well.
"That’s why the Clyde Climate Forrest will take into consideration whether there’s areas of deprivation or a lack of green spaces to bring the benefits of trees to the community.
"We’re going to need trees for shade, to reduce flooding and they just benefit biodiversity and quality of life so Clyde Climate Forest is trying to meet all these aims and I’m sure they’ll take all these into account to get the right trees in the right place.”
Now plans are approved by South Lanarkshire councillors, it is hoped that the Concordat will be signed by the Glasgow City Region Cabinet on or around National Tree Week (November 27 to December 5).
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